The Dutch speed skating stars have maintained their good Olympic form and also set the pace at the start of the Sprint World Championships in Heerenveen.
In the legendary Thialf ice stadium, 500 m Olympic champion Femke Kok leads with 73,220 points after strong runs over 500 m (36.67 seconds) and 1000 m (1:13.10 minutes). Behind her are her compatriots Suzanne Schulting (74.395) and Marrit Fledderus (75.080). Star skater Jutta Leerdam was not on the ice.
In the men’s race, Jenning De Boo dominated both distances (33.78+1:06.52). The 22-year-old, who won silver over both distances at the Winter Games in Milan, leads with 67,040 points. Second is double Olympic champion Jordan Stolz from the USA (67.700) ahead of Chinese 1500 m Olympic champion Ning Zhongyan (68.165).
As expected, the German starters are not in the top group. Anna Ostlender (77.270) has a chance of a top 10 placement in twelfth place, Katja Franzen (80.130) takes 27th and last place. Hendrik Dombek (70.160) is in 19th place after two runs, Moritz Klein (21st/70.400) is just behind.
The Sprint World Championships end on Friday. At the end of the Olympic winter there is the All-Around World Championships in Heerenveen on Saturday and Sunday. Felix Maly, who decided not to take part in the World Cup out of solidarity with Fridtjof Petzold, will not be there.
Petzold was temporarily banned from competing by the association after his public criticism of athlete support and support during the Olympics, and his status as a national squad athlete was also suspended.
Maly criticized the fact that, as a competitive athlete, he was dependent on “fair, transparent and reliable framework conditions”: “For me, this also includes the opportunity to address grievances or points of criticism without having to fear that I will be disadvantaged in sporting terms as a result.” Maly and Petzold both took part in the Winter Games in February. They are the two best-placed German speed skaters in the Long Distance World Cup.
